Bayern wasted no time applying early pressure and took the lead with only three minutes played through Martinez, who converted an overhead effort.

Hannover grew into the game as the first half wore on but Bayern eventually doubled their lead when Kroos latched onto Philip Lahm's cross in the 24th minute.

French international Ribery extended the lead on 37 minutes with a powerful finish past Ron Zieler.

Bayern began the second half in similar fashion and it was not long before they made it 4-0 as Dante headed home on the hour mark and Gomez completed his return from injury with a curling effort four minutes later.

Jupp Heynckes' men are nine points clear at the summit following Dortmund's come from behind 2-1 victory at Mainz.

Mainz midfielder Marco Caligiuri opened the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, propelling a terrific half-volley into the top corner from outside the area.

But less than 10 minutes later Marco Reus equalised when his cross nestled untouched in the bottom corner of the net, before Robert Lewandowski lobbed the visitors into the lead just before half-time.

The defending champions move up to second in the table as a result of Schalke's 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

In other Bundesliga results on Saturday, the 10-men of Werder Bremen held on for a 1-1 stalemate with Wolfsburg, while lowly Greuther Fuerth and fellow strugglers Nuernberg shared the spoils in a goalless draw.

Article

Heynckes calls for aggressive Bayern

24 November 2012 02:03

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes says his team needs to adapt a fighting mentality when they face Hannover on Saturday.

The Bundesliga leaders were held 1-1 away to Nuremburg away last week, although they remain eight points clear of Schalke at the top of the table.

Heynckes believes a lack of aggression might have been the key problem in the match against Dieter Hecking's side, and plans to make the necessary changes for the visit on Hannover on Saturday.

"(We have to play) more aggressive again, play wider and quickly switch to a high tempo," he said.

"(Hannover) will require everything from us."

Heynckes went on to acknowledge the competition for a starting role in attack is causing a selection headache, but claimed it is a good issue to have.

Bayern have the likes of Germany international Mario Gomez, Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic and Peruvian veteran Claudio Pizarro all vying for the centre-forward berth.

"That is a luxury problem, which is wonderful," he said.

Heynckes confirmed France international Franck Ribery will likely make an appearance, having "trained tremendously", despite playing through the pain barrier against Valencia on Tuesday.

Article

Bundesliga preview: Bayern enter busy week

Jupp Heynckes' side faced Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday and did enough to secure qualification to the knockout stages with a draw at the Mestalla.

Bayern remain eight points clear at the top of the league with 10 wins from 12 matches, but the Valencia result was their second consecutive stalemate after they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by lowly Nuremberg last Saturday.

Memories of the same eight-point lead they squandered last year will be at the forefront of Heynckes' mind with games against Mainz (Saturday), Freiburg and last season's eventual champions Borussia Dortmund falling in the next seven days.

Juergen Klopp's Dortmund safely secured Champions League qualification on Tuesday and sit atop the illustrious Group D and can keep up the pressure on Bayern with a third consecutive win in the league at eighth-placed Mainz on Saturday.

After struggling early in the season, Dortmund appear to have returned to peak form and were unstoppable on the break against Ajax on Wednesday in a 4-1 win.

Marco Reus and Mario Gotze produced a master class and striker Robert Lewandowski scored a brace with goals either side of half-time.

Both Bayern and Dortmund can rest easy with European progressions assured, but the same cannot be said in the league where they will lock horns in seven days time either side of other fixtures.

Second and third - Schalke and Frankfurt - meet on Saturday and could slip behind Dortmund if they play out a draw.

Schalke became the third German side to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday courtesy of Christian Fuch's sublime 30-yard strike in a 1-0 win over Olympiakos.

Fortuna Dusseldorf are at home to Hamburg on Friday looking for a first league win in eight games and Wolfsburg will go searching for a third consecutive win at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Lowly Greuther Furth host Nuremberg while on Sunday Freiburg are in action against Stuttgart and Hoffenheim entertain fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.